CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY MAY 16, 2023
DANIEL PENNY IS A MARINE VETERAN WHO WAS MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS ON A NEW YORK SUBWAY WHEN A HOMELESS MAN, JORDAN NEELY, BEGAN THREATENING AND ATTACKING PASSENGERS. PENNY, A DECORATED MARINE, GRABBED NEELY IN A CHOKEHOLD WHICH LED TO NEELY’S DEATH.
NEELY HAD A WRAP SHEET LONGER THAN BOTH OF HIS ARMS. AFTER THE INCIDENT, PENNY’S ATTORNEYS SAID NEELY HAD A HISTORY OF VIOLENT AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR, WHICH WAS THE APPARENT RESULT OF ONGOING AND UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS.
RACE WAS IMMEDIATELY INTRODUCED BECAUSE NEELY IS BLACK AND PENNY IS WHITE. AFTER INITIAL PRAISE FOR PENNY FROM FELLOW SUBWAY RIDERS AND EVEN NEW YORK AUTHORITIES, THE TIDE TURNED WHEN ACTVISTS BLOCKED SUBWAY TRAINS AND DEMANDED PENNY BE CHARGED.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, WHICH FREQUENTLY DOWNGRADES FELONIES TO MISDEMEANORS AND RELEASES OFFENDERS WHO OFTEN COMMIT NEW CRIMES, HAS CHARGED NEELY WITH SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER. HIS ATTORNEYS BELIEVE HE HAS A STRONG CASE. HERE WE GO AGAIN WHERE THERE IS MORE SYMPATHY FOR THE ATTACKER THAN FOR THE ONE WHO STEPPED-UP AND DID WHAT THE MARINES TRAINED HIM TO DO WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A THREAT. I’M CAL THOMAS.
Some things that we know for certain, thanks in part to your article. Jordan Neely was acting violent and a danger to other subway riders. Daniel Penny protected such riders by restraining Neely. The question then becomes, did Penny use excessive force above and beyond what was necessary to protect such people? Was it necessary to put Neely in the chokehold as long as he did?